Fuel-combustion apparatus



Jul 2.2 1924. 1,502,141

D. J, IRISH I FUEL COMBUSTION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 21. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1.?- J 1 LT L F E PT. 5 (/7 QM:

/%d -flde ATTORNEYS 150M143 D. J. IRISH FUEL COMBUSTION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 21 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented July 22, E224.

nears DAVID J. IRISH, Q'F BABIBERI'ON, OHIO, AfiSIG-NQR ,IO THE BABCOCK 'WTILGQX COMIPAN'Y, F BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, A. GOREORATIGN 03'' NEW JEMEY.

' FUEL-COMBUSTION APPARATUS.

Application filed September 21, 1921.

To all w from. it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID J. linen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Barberton, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Combustion Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a means by which fuels may be coked or otherwise prepared for ready ignition or may be ignited before being placed on the grate on which they are burned. Another object of my invention is to utilize the heat and energy in the gases produced in such coking. With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in the constructions and combinations hereinafter described and more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is avertical section of an illustrative embodiment of my invention with the chain grate and the boiler shown more or less diagrammatically; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a part of Fig. 1; Figs. 3, 4: and 5 are respectively end, front and bottom views of the combined air box and ignition plate; Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of the ignition plate and air box; Fig. 7 is a plan of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a section of a construction similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modification of my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the several views.

Referring to the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, a boiler setting 10 having a combustion chamber, represented, generally, by 11, has achain-grate stoker 12 of a well-known type located at the lower part thereof.

lVithin the setting is shown a well-known type of Stirling boiler having three upper steam and water drums connected by banks of tubes to a lower mud drum, the tubes being provided with baffles arranged to direct the gases from the combustion chamber through the tubes to'the gas outlet 13. An arch 14 directs the gases from the grate 12, and the chamber is also provided with a combustion arch 15 located over the grate 12,

Outside the wall 10 is a fuel hopper 16 having an outlet at its lower end controlled by a slide 172 by which the quantity of fuel from the hopper 16 passing to the grate 12 may be regulated. Y

Serial No. 502,221.

In order to prepare fuels, particularly those fuels which are difficult to ignite, so that such fuels may be burned more readily and at ahigher rate of consumption on the grate 12, I provide an ignition or cokin plate between the hopper 16 and the wall 10. In the form illustrated, this ignition plate 17 extends across the grate 12 with its lower edge closely adjacent thereto and with its outer surface at an angle to the surface of the grate 12 and located so that fuel from the hopper 16 will slide down the plate 17 to the grate 12. In the specific form, which I have chosen for purposes of illustration, the ignition plate 17 is made up of a plurality of subdivisions 171 provided with hooks) 18 to engage the upper edge of a wind-boxv 19 located behind the ignition plate 17. This wind-box is pro- -vided with a plurality of openings 20 which are connected by ducts 21 to a duct 22 connected, in turn, to a duct 23 extending along the side of the furnace chamber and which may have its end (shown broken away in the drawing) connected directly to the stack of the furnace. Auxiliary ducts 24 and 2.5, each controlled by a suitable damper, are shown connecting the duct 23 with the combustion chamber above the grate 12 and the rear of the boiler setting, respectively. A damper 26 is provided in the duct 23 to close off connection with the stack. The wind-00X 19 may be provided with division plates 27 and the ducts 21 are provided with separate dampers 28, each of the openings 2O connecting with one portion of the wind-box 19. The wind-box may also be provided with openings 29 having sliding covers 30, whereby anydust or ashes accumulating in the wind-box may be readily removed. The ignition plate 17 is provided with perforations, and since the ignition plate forms the cover to the wind-box 19, it will be obvious that gases may be forced or drawn through the perforations into the wind-box and from thence through the various ducts in the duct 23.

In operation the grate 12 will be moved intermittently or continuously to carry the fuel into the combustion chamber in the usual manner, air being supplied, in the form illustrated, by natural draft to flow upward through the grate and the fuel into the combustion chamber.

' The fuel will slide down the face of the tween the wind-box 19, the duct 23 and any resulting from the are heated or themse ves contain inflammaone of the parts of the boiler setting or the stack, as indicated, there will be a draft induced through the fuel as it, slides over this plate to draw heated gases from the combustion chamber to coke or ignite such fuel. Such preignition or coking will be assisted by the presence of the arch 15 which will become heated and-radiate this heat to the fuel on the plate 17.

For certain classes of fuel where the gases reignition or coklng to pass the gases into the boiler setting, but through the duct 25, and in st1ll others, it may be desirable to pass all of the gases directly to the stack, in which case the damper 26 will be open and the other dampers closed. If desired, some of the gases may pass into each of the parts indicated by the proper setting of the several dampers. By adjustment of the dampers 28, the passage of the air through the various parts -of the ignition plate '17 may also be regulated.

In the arrangement described, it will be seen that coal, such as anthracite which does not readily ignite, may be heated sufficiently, if not actually ignited, so that as soon as it reaches the surface of the grate 12, it will begin to burn. Consequently the grate 12 will be capable of consuming greater quantities of fuel than hasheretofore been possible in such constructions. It will also be seen that if, as a result of such ignition or coking, the resulting gases are heated enough or contain enough combustible material to warrant it, such gases may be passed directly into the lower part of the combustion chamber to join the gases from the fuel on the grate 12 so that there will be no waste.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 8 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that the grate 12 is supplied with air under forced draft, a fan 31 being connected by a duct or ducts 32 with the space between the runs of the grate in the usual manner. The wind-box 19 and the duct 21 will be connected. into the cross duct 22, which in this case is connected to the intake duct 33 lead in to the fan 31, a damper 34 being provided at the inlet end of the duct 33 to control the amount of air leading to such intake from outside the combustion chamber. An ash-pit 35 is shown to receive the ashes fromthe left-hand end of the grate 12. The operation of this modification is much air passing the damper 34, through the duct 32 and from thence through the .fuel on the grate 12 to mingle with the gases arising from such fuel into the combustion chamber 11. p 1

While I have illustrated my invention in connection with a chain-grate stoker, it will be understood that it may be used with any suitable form of grate, and that if a mechanically operated grate is used, any form other than the chain-grate illustrated may be used. It will also be understood that the specific construction of the ignition plate may be varied within wide limits and that the apparatus may be applied to any form of combustion chamber, the boiler shown being selected merely for illustrative purposes.

I claim 1. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate over which the fuel passes to the grate, and means to draw gases from above the grate first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through said perforations and return them to the gases from the fuel on the grate.

2. llna fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate over which the fuel passes to the grate, and means to draw gases from. above the grate first throu h the fuel on the ignition plate and then t rough said perforations.

3. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated inclined ignition plate between the hopper and the grate over which the fuel passes to the grate, and means to draw gases from above the grate first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through said perforations and return them to the gases from the fuel on the grate. v

i. lin a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated inclined ignition plate between thehopper and the grate over which the fuel passes to the grate, and means to draw gases from above the grate first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through said perforations.

5. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate and arranged to guide the fuel from the hopper to the grate, and means to draw gases from above the grate first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through said perforations and return them to the gases from the fuel on the grate.

6. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated ignition plate wearer between the hopper and the grate and arranged to guide the fuel from the hopper to the grate, and means to draw gases from above the grate first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through said perforations.

7 In a fuelcombustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate arranged to forward fuel received from the hopper and fpermit it to be burned on the grate, a per orated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate and arranged to receive the fuelfrom the hopper and pass it to one end of the grate, and means to draw gases from above the grate first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through said perforationsand return them to the gases from the fuel on the grate.

8. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate arranged to forward fuel received from the hopper and permit it to be burned on the grate, a perforated ignis tion plate between the hopper and the grate and arranged to receive the fuel from the hopper and pass it to one end of the grate, and means to draw gases from above the grate first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through said perforations.

9. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate having 1ts surface at an angle to the surface of the grate and arranged to receive fuel from the hopper and permit it to slide down to the grate, and means to draw gases from above the grate first through the fuel on the 1gn1- tion plate and then through sa1d perforations and return them to the gases from th fuel on the grate. 1

10. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate having its surface at an angle to the surface of the grate and arranged to receive fuel from the hopper and permit it to slide down to the grate, and a gas duct connecting the rear of the ignition plate with the air and gases passing through the fuel on the grate.

11. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate having its surface at an angle to the surface of the grate and arranged to receive fuel from the hopper and permit it to slide down to the grate, a gas duct connecting the rear of the ignition plate with the air and gases passing through the fuel on the grate, and a damper in said duct to regulate the volume of gases passing through the perforations of the ignition plate.

12. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a grate, a fuel hopper having its outlet above and extendin across the width of the grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hop per and the grate, with its surface at an a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate, with its surface at an angle to the grate, said ignition plate extending across the end of the grate for the width of said outlet, a wind-box extending beneath the ignition plate, and ducts connecting the wind-box with the air and gases passing through the fuel on the grate.

14. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a grate, a fuel hopper having its outlet above and extending across the width of the grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate, with its surface at an angle to the grate, said ignition plate extendlng across the end of the grate for the width of said outlet, a wind-box extending beneath the ignition plate, and ducts com necting the wind-box with the air and gases passing through the fuel on the grate, said ignition plate comprising a, plurality of separable parts supported on said wind-box.

15. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a grate, a fuel hopper having its outlet above and extending across the width of the grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate, with its surface at an angle to the grate, said ignition plate extending across the end of the grate for the width of said outlet, a wind-box extending beneath the ignition plate, and ducts connecting the wind-box with the air and gases passing through the fuel on the grate, said wind-box being provided with openings in its bottom to permit the discharge of dust therefrom and openable closures for said openings.

16. In a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate and arranged to guide the fuel from the hopper to the grate, a wind-box beneath the ignition plate, a forced-draft device to force air through the grate, and ducts to connect said wind-box with the intake side of said device.

17 In a fuel combustion apparatus, a fuel hopper, a grate, a perforated ignition plate between the hopper and the grate and arranged to guide the fuel from the hopper to the grate, a wind-box beneath the ignition plate, a forced-draft fan and ducts to conduct air therefrom beneath the grate, and a duct connecting said wind-box with the intake side of said fan. v

18. In a fuel combustion device, a coinbustion chamber, a grate in said chamber, a

fuel hopper outside the chamber'and adjacent one end of the grate, a perforated 1gnition plate within the chamber and between the outlet of the hopper and the grate and arranged to guide the fuel from the hopper to the grate, said combustion chamber having an ignition arch above said ignltion plate, and means to draw"gases from the combustion chamber first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through the perforations therein.

19. In a fuel combustion device, a combustion chamber, a fuel hopper outside the chamber, a grate in the chamber arranged to forward fuel received from the hopper and permit it to be burned on the grate, a perforated ignition plate in the chamber between the outlet of the hopper and the grate and arranged to receive fuel from the hopper and pass it to one end of the grate, and means to draw gases from the chamber first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through the perforations therein.

20. In a fuel combustion device, a combustion chamber, a fuel hopper outside the chamber, a grate in the chamber arranged to forward fuel received from the hopper and permit it to be burned on the grate. a perforated ignition plate in the chamber between the outlet of the hopper and the grate and arranged to receive fuel from the hopper and pass it to one end of the grate, and means to draw gases from the chamber first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through the perforations therein and return them to the gases from the fuel on the grate. '7

21. In a fuel combustion device, a combustion chamber, a fuel hopper outside the chamber, a grate in the chamber arranged to forward fuel received from the hopper and permit it to be burned on the grate, a perforated ignition plate in the chamber between the outlet of the hopper and the grate and arranged to receive fuel from the hopper an pass it to one end of the grate, and means to draw gases from the chamber first through the fuel on the havin an i nition arch neoarar ignition plate and then through the perforations t erein, said combustion chamber above said ignition plate. v

22. In a fuel combustion device, a combustion chamber, a fuel hopper outside the chamber, a grate in the chamber arranged to forward fuel received from the hopper and permit it to be burned on the grate, a perforated ignition plate in the chamber between the outlet of the hopper and the grate and arranged to receive fuel from the hopper and pass it to one end of the grate, and means to draw gases from the chamber first through the fuel on the ignition plate and then through the perforations therein and return them to the gases from the fuel on the grate, said combustion chamber having an ignition arch above said ignition p ate.

23. In a fuel combustion device, a 'combustion chamber, a fuel hopper outside the chamber, a grate in' the chamber arranged to forward fuel received from the hopper perforated ignition plate in the chamber between the outlet of the hopper and the grate and arranged to receive fuel from the hopper and passit to one end of the grate. a.

forced-draft device to force air through the grate, and ducts to connect the rear of the ignition plate with the intake side of said device.

24. In a fuel combustion device, a combustion chamber, a fuel hopper outside the chamber, a grate in the chamber arranged to forward fuel received from the hopper and permit it to be burned on the grate, a perforated ignition plate in the chamber between the outlet of the hopper and the grate and arranged to receive fuel from the hopper and pass it to one end of the grate, a forced-draft device to force air through the grate, and ducts to connect the rear of the ignition plate with the intake side of said device, said combustion chamber having an i ition arch above said ignition plate. gm DAVID J. IRISH.

and permit it to be burned on the grate, a' 

